Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is a specific type of driver’s license necessary in the United States to drive any oversized vehicle which weighs 26,001 pounds or more. This includes trucks intended for commercial use or vehicles carrying hazardous materials so designated under Department of Transportation rules. It also includes those vehicles such as buses that carry 16 or more people, including the driver.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 mandated the federal government to create minimum requirements in order to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). At the same time, it gave states the right to distribute a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The goal of the act was to improve highway safety and promote qualified tractor trailer and bus drivers.

Thus, there are national requirements while each state may have their respective restrictions for a commercial driver’s license (CDL). A written test must be passed by each potential operator. The test focuses on highway safety and the various parts of a truck. Out of a minimum of 30 questions on the test, the applicant must pass 80 percent of the questions correctly. The potential driver must also pass a driving exam which evaluates his or her skills at various driving tactics.

The potential candidate for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) has many options from which to choose. Both governmental departments and private institutions may disseminate the information and driving exam for the state. The exam must be identical as those commercial driver’s license (CDL) tests given by the state.

In this country, the prospective truck driver or bus driver may attend a commercial driver’s license (CDL)training program in order to prepare for the tests and acquire driving skills not obtained in high school driver’s education classes. Visit our website, or call 1-800-TRUCKER to explore your options for obtaining yourcommercial driver’s license (CDL). We service every state and city nationwide.